A carbon-lite atmosphere could be a sign of water and life on other terrestrial planets, MIT study finds

A low carbon abundance in planetary atmospheres, which the James Webb Space Telescope can detect, could be a signature of habitability.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
Dec. 28, 2023 ~8 min

Scientists and space agencies are shooting for the Moon -- 5 essential reads on modern lunar missions

Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing on the Moon made 2023 a big year for lunar exploration, and future years will come with even more discoveries.

Mary Magnuson, Assistant Science Editor • conversation
Dec. 12, 2023 ~8 min


The longstanding mystery of Mars' moons – and the mission that could solve it

A Japanese spacecraft is expected to reach Martian orbit in 2025 to collect material from the surface of the moon Phobos before returning to Earth by 2029.

Ben Rider-Stokes, Post Doctoral Researcher in Achondrite Meteorites, The Open University • conversation
Dec. 7, 2023 ~6 min

Unwrapping Uranus and its icy secrets: What NASA would learn from a mission to a wild world

Five of the Uranus moons might be ocean worlds − and if there’s water, there might be life.

Mike Sori, Assistant Professor of Planetary Science, Purdue University • conversation
Nov. 28, 2023 ~7 min

Earthrise: historian uncovers the true origins of the 'image of the century’

Borman’s professionalism helped the risky Apollo 8 mission become a success.

Robert Poole, Professor of History, University of Central Lancashire • conversation
Nov. 17, 2023 ~8 min

All-UK astronaut mission shows that private enterprise is vital to the future of space exploration

The agreement should give British astronauts more flights into space.

Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of the Space Economy Evolution Lab, Bocconi University • conversation
Nov. 3, 2023 ~8 min

The Sun's activity cycle is reaching its peak early: knowing why could help us unlock the secrets of our star

A more active Sun could disable satellites and affect electrical grids on Earth.

Daniel Brown, Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Oct. 26, 2023 ~7 min

Bright flash leads astronomers to a heavy-metal factory 900 million light years away

Using multiple observatories, astronomers directly detect tellurium in two merging neutron stars.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
Oct. 25, 2023 ~7 min


How to watch October's Orionids meteor shower and contemplate the wonders of the sky

The meteor shower happens when Earth passes through debris from Halley’s comet.

Daniel Brown, Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Oct. 20, 2023 ~7 min

Clouds of quartz detected high in a distant planet's atmosphere – here's what this tells us about other worlds

The atmosphere is a reflection of extreme conditions on the super-heated planet.

Hannah Wakeford, Associate professor, University of Bristol • conversation
Oct. 18, 2023 ~6 min

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